When to go · Rwanda
Rwanda in March
Mixed month. Long rains begin; permits easier to get.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Low
- Rwanda
- Prices
- Medium
- Rwanda
Verdict
Long rains begin; permits easier to get.
Is another month better than March?
March is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
Weather in March
- Virunga volcanoes · Volcanoes NP, Musanzerainy
2,500–3,500 m on the treks: cold mornings, rain any month, mud Mar–May and Oct–Nov.
- Central plateau · Kigali, Huyerainy
Mild around 25 °C (77 °F) by day; two rainy seasons.Mild around 77 °F (25 °C) by day; two rainy seasons.
- Lake Kivu and Nyungwe · Gisenyi, Kibuye, Nyungwe Forestrainy
Nyungwe is a rainforest — wet all year, driest June–August.
- Eastern savanna · Akagerafine
Lower and warmer; dry season concentrates animals at the lakes.
- Kigali26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 15 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 15 rain days
- Butare27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 14 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 14 rain days
- Cyangugu26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 16 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 16 rain days
- Gisenyi27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 6 rain days
- Kabuga27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 9 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 9 rain days
- Kibeho30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
- Kibungo26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 8 rain days
- Kibuye28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 7 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 7 rain days
- Muhanga27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 7 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 7 rain days
- Nyamata27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 5 rain days
- Ruhengeri24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 6 rain days
- Rwamagana26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 9 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 9 rain days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Good Friday and Easter Monday
Mar–Apr (moves)
Public holidays.
Eid al-Fitr
Lunar (moves)
Public holiday.
Umuganda
Last Saturday monthly, 08:00–11:00Last Saturday monthly, 8:00 AM–11:00 AM
Community work; traffic stops and shops shut until about midday.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Rwanda
- Low
- Prices · Rwanda
- Medium
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Rwanda, side by side.
Verdict
Mar: Mixed
Jan: Great (better)
Crowds
Mar: Low
Jan: Medium
Prices
Mar: Medium
Jan: High
Festivals listed
Mar: 3
Jan: 2
March: Long rains begin; permits easier to get.
January: Short dry season: good trekking, green hills.
Rwanda: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast